Top goal leaves Queens trailing in Brian’s Wake

Apr 5 2007

AN ENTERTAINING encounter in Dumfries ended with a share of the spoils for Hamilton and Queen of the South on Tuesday.

The draw was probably fair and helps both sides’ respective campaigns.

Queens can thank referee Mike McCurry for denying Accies what looked like a decent shout for a first-half penalty.

But Accies will be grateful to keeper Sean Murdoch for a breathtaking point-blank save from sub John O’Neill with only five minutes remaining.

Boss Billy Reid must pull out all the stops to try and keep the talented shot-stopper at New Douglas Park.

Although a return to Dunfermline will be an attractive alternative, Murdoch would be third-choice at the Fifers.

Mention must also be made of young Gerry McLauchlan, who was a half-time replacement for James Gibson and was a revelation in defence — proving that the conveyor belt of young talent continues apace.

Reid made three changes from Saturday’s winning line-up, with captain Alex Neil and defender Tom Parratt returning from suspension, and Paul McLeod starting up front.

David Winters, James McCarthy and Mark Gilhaney dropped to the bench.

Queens threatened first in three minutes when Eric Paton’s cross from the right was knocked down by Sean O’Connor for Stephen Dobbie, but his tame header was comfortably held by Murdoch.

Two minutes later Accies silenced the noisy Queens crowd by taking the lead.

Brian Easton’s ball upfield was delightfully sent through by Parratt for Brian Wake to run onto, draw keeper Jamie MacDonald, and calmly clip it past him for his fourth goal of a stop-start season.

Steve Tosh let fly with a 25-yard drive in seven minutes, but Murdoch was untroubled.

Accies nearly doubled their lead in spectacular style in 12 minutes when Parratt’s free-kick from the left reached Easton on the right corner of the box, and his lofted effort flew inches past the top left corner with MacDonald stranded.

In 15 minutes Paton’s 40-yard free-kick from the right was nodded just past the left post by O’Connor.

Accies didn’t learn from that threat, and in 21 minutes the same two players combined, with O’Connor beating Chris Swailes to place a powerful header into the roof of the net from six yards.

A moment of controversy arrived in 22 minutes when Wake made his way into the box only to be tripped by Jim Lauchlan.

A penalty would have been soft, but contact was made and referee McCurry was therefore wrong to wave play-on.

Queens nearly took the lead in 29 minutes when Dobbie raced to the right by-line and his angled cut-back was drilled a foot over the bar by Stevie Murray with Murdoch scrambling.

Hamilton nearly regained their lead in 40 minutes when Parratt’s pass was deflected into the path of James McArthur, sliding in. His mis-hit shot fell towards McLeod, who couldn’t reach it and the ball was cleared to the edge of the box.

Skipper Neil then took possession and unleashed a searing 25-yard drive that MacDonald superbly saved at the bottom right corner.

Queens started the second half in much more determined fashion, and took the game to Hamilton.

In 48 minutes Jamie McQuilken accepted a throw-in on the left and curled an inviting cross into the box to O’Connor, who showed superb control, but David Elebert blocked his turn and the threat was cleared.

O’Connor appeared to pick up a knock in the move and was replaced by O’Neill three minutes later.

A long-range crossfield Tosh pass from inside his own half released Murray on the left in 56 minutes, but he lashed well over from just inside the box.

Hamilton passed up a decent chance in 76 minutes when sub Gilhaney went on a run and his pass was cleverly dummied by fellow sub McCarthy into the path of Wake, but the big striker blasted past from the left corner of the box.

McLauchlan had already impressed by the 77th minute, but stole the show when an outstretched leg prevented Graham Weir from putting O’Neill one-on-one with Murdoch.

Queen of the South should have led in 82 minutes when McQuilken’s clever flick found Murray in the middle of the box, but he mis-kicked his effort and Murdoch was content to watch as it rolled past the right post.

But with five minutes left McQuilken’s curling cross from the left was bullet-headed at the back post by O’Neill, only for Murdoch to push it over the top right corner.

Queens fans were on their feet to acclaim what they thought was a certain goal, and rightly applauded Murdoch’s save.